FIRE SITUATION UPDATE: National Guard to assist at Quartz and Monument Fires

Portland, Ore.- Army Guard soldiers will depart early Friday morning to assist in firefighting efforts in the Quartz Fire, ten miles southwest of Medford and the Monument Complex Fire, three miles north of Monument, Ore. Crews and support packages from the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Battalion, headquartered in Ashland and the 1st Battalion, 162nd Infantry, headquartered in Forest Grove will be aiding in the efforts in the Medford area. Soldiers from the 1249th Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Salem, and the 1st Battalion, 82nd Cavalry headquartered in Bend will assist in the Monument Fire

To date, three CH-47 Chinook Helicopters equipped with 2,000 gallon water buckets and support personnel are working the Monument Complex Fire as well as one UH-60 Firehawk equipped with the 1,000 gallon belly tank and nossel system and nine personnel. Tomorrow morning six firefighter crews will depart for the Monument Fire from Bend and Monmouth.

Two UH-60 Blackhawks with 760 gallon buckets are working the Olallie Fire starting today. Friday morning, 12 crews and support elements will depart for the Quartz Fire near Medford. Friday will be a travel day with soldiers reporting to the firelines on Saturday morning.